mercies, words could not be found to express their emotions.
Another evening, the old clothes-line that served for a jump-rope, after
having bravely rubbed against the pavement many thousand times in its
endeavor to lighten the joyless life of the little pack, finally
succumbed, worn through the centre and quite beyond hope of further
knotting. Then Peter rose, and going to one of the little shops that
supplied the district, soon returned with a _real_ jump-rope, with
_wooden handles!_ So from time to time, _real_ tops, _real_ dolls,
_real_ marbles and various other _real_, if cheap, things, hitherto only
enjoyed in dreams, or at most through home-made attempts, found their
way into the angle, and were distributed among the little imps. They
could not resist such subtle bribery, and soon Peter was on as familiar
and friendly a footing as he could wish. He came to know each by name,
and was made the umpire in all their disputes and the confidant in all
their troubles. They were a dirty, noisy, lawless, and godless little
community, but they were interesting to watch, and the lonely fellow
grew to like them much, for with all their premature sharpness, they
were really natural, and responded warmly to his friendly overtures.

After a time, Peter tried to help them a little more than by mere small
gifts. A cheap box of carpenter's tools was bought, and under his
superintendence, evenings were spent in the angle, in making various
articles. A small wheel barrow, a knife-and-fork basket, a clock-bracket
and other easy things were made, one at a time. All boys, and indeed
some girls, were allowed to help. One would saw off the end of a plank;
another would rule a pencil line; the next would plane the plank down to
that line; the next would bore the holes in it; the next would screw it
into position; the next would sandpaper it The work went very slowly,
but every one who would, had his share in it, while the rest sat and
watched. When the article was completed, lots were drawn for it, and
happy was the fortunate one who drew the magnificent prize in life's
lottery!

Occasionally too, Peter brought a book with him, and read it aloud to
them. He was rather surprised to find that they did not take to
Sunday-school stories or fairy tales. Wild adventures in foreign lands
were the most effective; and together they explored the heart of Africa,
climbed the Swiss mountains, fought the Western Indians, and attempted
to discover the